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CVE-2026-7807 is a Local File Inclusion (LFI) vulnerability in SmarterMail that allows any authenticated user to read arbitrary `.json` files from the server through the `/api/v1/report/summary/{type}` endpoint. By manipulating the `{type}` parameter with path traversal sequences like ../../, an attacker can break out of the intended report directory and access sensitive files anywhere on the system.
The true danger lies in the specific files this vulnerability can expose. SmarterMail stores encrypted user credentials and Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) secrets in JSON files that are accessible via this LFI. The application uses proprietary encryption for this data, which security researchers have identified as weak. Furthermore, the encryption keys used for this process are hardcoded within the application binaries. An attacker who can read a user’s JSON file and has knowledge of these hardcoded keys can easily decrypt the information, obtaining plaintext passwords and valid 2FA secrets.
This combination of an LFI that leaks sensitive data with the ability to decrypt that data using static keys is what makes this vulnerability critical. An attacker does not need to break any complex cryptographic protections; they only need to know the publicly available key and the location of the target JSON file. After authenticating with a low-privileged account, the attacker can pivot to fully compromise every user account on the server, including administrators, by decrypting their passwords and bypassing 2FA.
DailyCVE Form:
Platform: SmarterTools SmarterMail
Version: prior to 9560
Vulnerability : LFI + Weak Crypto
Severity: High (CVSS 8.1)
date: 2026-05-08
Prediction: 2026-06-15
What Undercode Say:
Analytics:
Identify vulnerable API endpoint accessibility
curl -k -X GET "https://target.smartermail.com/api/v1/report/summary/../../../../../../windows/win.ini" -H "Authorization: Bearer [bash]"
Attempt to read a user's credential JSON file
Note: '{user_id}' and '{user_email}' would need to be enumerated or guessed
curl -k -X GET "https://target.smartermail.com/api/v1/report/summary/../../../App_Data/[bash]/[bash]/settings.json" -H "Authorization: Bearer [bash]"
Check for application configuration file exposure
curl -k -X GET "https://target.smartermail.com/api/v1/report/summary/../../../web.config" -H "Authorization: Bearer [bash]"
The vulnerability can be detected by monitoring web server logs for the API endpoint `/api/v1/report/summary/` with suspicious strings like ../, %2e%2e%2f, or ..;/.
How Exploit:
A successful attack chain is:
- Acquire any valid SmarterMail user session token through normal authentication.
- Exploit the LFI in `/api/v1/report/summary/{type}` by setting `type=../../../path/to/sneaky.json` to read arbitrary JSON files from the filesystem. For example, to read a user’s encrypted data:
GET /api/v1/report/summary/../../../App_Data/[email protected]/12345/settings.json. - Extract the encrypted password and 2FA secret from the obtained JSON file.
- Decrypt this data using the weak, hardcoded encryption key extracted from SmarterMail’s binaries or configuration.
- Log in as any user, including high-privilege administrators, using the recovered plaintext credentials. This leads to full mail server compromise.
Protection:
- Immediate Upgrade: The primary and most effective mitigation is to upgrade to SmarterMail version build 9560 or later.
- Network Segmentation & Access Control: If an immediate upgrade is not possible, implement strict firewall rules to restrict access to the administrative API. The `/api/v1/report/summary/` endpoint should only be reachable from trusted management networks or IP addresses, not from the public internet.
- Credential Rotation: As a precautionary measure, force a password reset for all users and regenerate all 2FA secrets after patching the server. The hardcoded keys are now public knowledge, so any data encrypted with them in the past must be considered compromised.
- File System Hardening: Review and restrict file system permissions so that the SmarterMail service account (e.g., `NETWORK SERVICE` or a local service user) has read access only to the absolute minimum set of directories required for operation. Specifically, ensure other application directories are not readable by the same process.
Impact:
The impact of this vulnerability is considered HIGH (CVSS v3.1 Base Score: 8.1, v4.0 Score: 8.7). A successful exploit results in a complete loss of confidentiality for all user data stored on the server, including credentials and 2FA secrets. This directly undermines the application’s primary security controls and can lead to the complete takeover of the email server and the compromise of all accounts hosted on it. The attack can be performed remotely over a network by a single authenticated attacker with low privileges.
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Sources:
Reported By: nvd.nist.gov
Extra Source Hub:
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